Milestones

You know how when you decide to go on a diet, and you try to plan your life out so as not to be around tempting foods? You throw all the junk out of your house, buy healthy foods, and avoid your favorite unhealthy places to eat? And then that inevitable event comes up that you can’t get out of, or your office throws a birthday party for a co-worker, and you find yourself surrounded by temptation. You find yourself resentful of the event, jealous of those around you who can enjoy the tempting food, and wondering why you have to find yourself in that situation in the first place.

Well, anyone taking early recovery seriously employs the same types of strategies in order to get and stay sober/clean, only the consequences of failure are far more devastating that of a failed diet. We in recovery are taught early on to stay away from people, places and things that we associate with our alcohol/drug use.

For the past 82 days, I have done just that, and it has brought me immense relief. But just as the dieter cannot eliminate food from his or her life, so too must the recovering addict deal with tempting situations at some point. I had hoped for myself that the time would come later in my recovery, when I had solid time behind me, but life doesn’t always work out the way I would like.

So I had my first encounter with a person, place or thing today. And it was hard. And it was upsetting. But guess what I found out?

1. I have the most amazing network of support that will be there for me at the drop of a hat.

2. That I am stronger than I think I am.

3. I have my first real experience involving temptation behind me, and I got through it.